Salt Lake City – Two Air France flight bound for Paris from the U.S. had to be diverted Tuesday night because of anonymous threats received after they had taken off, but both planes landed safely in North America, officials said.
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One plane, Air France Flight 65 from Los Angeles International Airport to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, was diverted to Salt Lake City International Airport, Air France said in a statement. At about the same time a second flight, Air France 55, took off from Dulles International Airport outside Washington and was diverted to Halifax on Canada’s East Coast, officials said.
Passengers got off both planes safely and were taken to terminals. Authorities in both the U.S. and Canada were preparing to search the planes with dogs, officials said.
The FBI was taking over the investigation of the plane in Salt Lake City, which was diverted because of a threat received by phone after takeoff, Salt Lake airport spokeswoman Bianca Shreeve said.
In Halifax, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police were leading the investigation.
RCMP Constable Mark Skinner said there were 262 people onboard that plane, which also received an anonymous threat. No further details on the threat were released.